Help me get home for the holidays!
Donation protected
Hello friends and fam,
I never thought I’d need to set up a GoFund me, and, as much as I know it’s a perfectly acceptable thing to do, I still find myself slightly embarrassed. We live in a society in which poverty is shamed and growing up in and out of it rooted me in a mentality that I still struggle against. I’m admitting now that I really do need help, and I’m also reminding myself that there’s no shame in that, and we need to be pioneers by reaching out to one another rather than trying to go it alone, as is the American way.
I made this because I want to go home for Thanksgiving and Christmas; that’s really it. Currently I have a small apartment in Ithaca (yay!!) with rent at $600 a month. I work a wonderful job that I love, but only 15 hours a week and at minimum wage ($10.5/hr), and I’m living in a frantic job-search mentality, since if I don’t get another job I will NOT be able to keep living in my apartment. I’m also currently on academic leave from Cornell, a place in which low-income students are NOT treated well, which is part of the reason I’m taking a break to take care of myself and to raise money. Needless to say, I’m making a lot of sacrifices and painstakingly calculating my monthly budget in a gentrified area that breaks the bank.
One sacrifice I’d rather not make is missing out on seeing my family, catching up with my little punk brothers, being with my mom, and especially being with my new baby sister as much as I possibly can before she grows up without me. Bus tickets are unfortunately expensive, so I’m giving this a go to see if I can get some love and support from the people I’m close to. If you donate even $1.27, THANK YOU SO MUCH, you are helping me have a good holiday season in which I can feel at ease and not be alone. I calculated $400 as my goal because bus tickets are normally around $80 one-way, and this would be 4 trips (I know, travel is expensive!!) plus, I would love to be able to buy a few small Christmas gifts.
I consider myself very brave and strong (after a long, LONG battle for self-esteem) what with everything I’ve been through and overcome in the past few years. One of those victories is realizing it’s okay to ask for help, so here it is! To other students who are really struggling: there’s no shame in asking for help when you need it. Work on redefining “need;” don’t go without food or basic resources and allow yourself to accept that some things are vital.
Peace and Love,
Ana
I never thought I’d need to set up a GoFund me, and, as much as I know it’s a perfectly acceptable thing to do, I still find myself slightly embarrassed. We live in a society in which poverty is shamed and growing up in and out of it rooted me in a mentality that I still struggle against. I’m admitting now that I really do need help, and I’m also reminding myself that there’s no shame in that, and we need to be pioneers by reaching out to one another rather than trying to go it alone, as is the American way.
I made this because I want to go home for Thanksgiving and Christmas; that’s really it. Currently I have a small apartment in Ithaca (yay!!) with rent at $600 a month. I work a wonderful job that I love, but only 15 hours a week and at minimum wage ($10.5/hr), and I’m living in a frantic job-search mentality, since if I don’t get another job I will NOT be able to keep living in my apartment. I’m also currently on academic leave from Cornell, a place in which low-income students are NOT treated well, which is part of the reason I’m taking a break to take care of myself and to raise money. Needless to say, I’m making a lot of sacrifices and painstakingly calculating my monthly budget in a gentrified area that breaks the bank.
One sacrifice I’d rather not make is missing out on seeing my family, catching up with my little punk brothers, being with my mom, and especially being with my new baby sister as much as I possibly can before she grows up without me. Bus tickets are unfortunately expensive, so I’m giving this a go to see if I can get some love and support from the people I’m close to. If you donate even $1.27, THANK YOU SO MUCH, you are helping me have a good holiday season in which I can feel at ease and not be alone. I calculated $400 as my goal because bus tickets are normally around $80 one-way, and this would be 4 trips (I know, travel is expensive!!) plus, I would love to be able to buy a few small Christmas gifts.
I consider myself very brave and strong (after a long, LONG battle for self-esteem) what with everything I’ve been through and overcome in the past few years. One of those victories is realizing it’s okay to ask for help, so here it is! To other students who are really struggling: there’s no shame in asking for help when you need it. Work on redefining “need;” don’t go without food or basic resources and allow yourself to accept that some things are vital.
Peace and Love,
Ana
Organizer
Ana Carpenter
Organizer
Ithaca, NY
